Walgreens death shows heroes still need training

Nobody should fault Anthony Antell Jr. for what he tried to do. It was, in fact, heroic.

Still, the outcome of his efforts — Antell was shot dead May 2 after he came to the aid of a woman who was shot outside a Walgreens in Arlington — shows just how wrong he was.

It shows why some people question the wisdom of those who say everyone should be allowed to carry a handgun in public for possible use in emergencies.

And it shows the wisdom of requiring training and licensing for everyone who does carry a gun for those times when they decide its emergency use is required.

It shows why everyone should take that training very seriously, and those who want to carry a gun should seek out top-notch instructors.

It shows the absurdity of proposals like those advocated by some members of the Texas Legislature — including state Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford — that no such training or licensing should be required.

Antell got his gun and confronted the shooter. But he apparently had not prepared himself for what could happen in such circumstances: The man slapped Antell’s gun out of his hand and shot him several times.

Suspect Ricci Bradden later turned himself in to police. Antell, a 35-year-old father of three, died in the Walgreens parking lot.

The woman Bradden reportedly shot, his wife, Quinisha Johnson, was hit in the ankle.

Johnson worked at the Walgreens. By the time Antell confronted her angry husband, she had retreated inside the store.

Heroics aren’t necessarily the best thing in such situations.

Firearms instructor Brandon Carlton told Star-Telegram reporter Azia Branson that anyone who gets involved in incidents like this must sift quickly through multiple scenarios, including the possibility of avoiding confrontation.

Carlton says the tells his students to ask themselves basic questions: “Do I have to do it? Is there anything else I can do?”

Life can depend on the answers to questions like that.

The question became whether Bradden remained a threat.

“When the threat stops, your justification for deadly force also stops,” said another firearms instructor, Tony Arbelaez.

Antell had to evaluate those circumstances at the spur of the moment.

Police officers train extensively for exactly those decisions. Odds of a civilian being able to think fast enough are not good.

Without the training required for a Texas handgun license, the odds would be even worse.

This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Walgreens death shows heroes still need training."